Certain types of animal cruelty are now a federal felony thanks to the passing of a new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, ABC news reports.

The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act was passed unanimously on Tuesday afternoon, with the bi-partisan bill having been introduced by y Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. An accompanying bill was also introduced in the Senate.

This dog with no nose managed to find a forever home against the odds: 

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"This bill sends a clear message that our society does not accept cruelty against animals. We've received support from so many Americans from across the country and across the political spectrum," Deutch said in a statement. "I'm deeply thankful for all of the advocates who helped us pass this bill, and I look forward to the Senate’s swift passage and the President’s signature."

The bill expands the 2010 Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which prohibited the creation and distribution of "animal crushing" videos.

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Now, the PACT Act means that it is a federal crime for "any person to intentionally engage in animal crushing if the animals or animal crushing is in, substantially affects, or uses a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce," a fact sheet of the bill states.

The law does not affect local animal cruelty laws or enforcement and only applies to interstate commerce and federal property.

"The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Buchanan said.

In the heartbreaking video below, a baby elephant is forced to perform tricks: 

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The passing of the bill was praised by Sara Amundson, the president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.

"Over the course of 30 years in animal protection, I have encountered terrible animal cruelties, but acts of intentional torture are the most disturbing because they demonstrate how some people treat the most vulnerable in our society," Amundson said in a statement. "These malicious acts deserve federal scrutiny and action. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials will finally have the tools they need to bring those responsible for cruelty to animals to justice."

Republican President Donald Trump has just signed a bill that makes animal cruelty a federal felony in the United States.

The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) act seeks to criminalize acts of animal cruelty in America. The bill was passed in the Senate by unanimous decision on November 25th, after it was approved in the House in late October 2019.

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PACT is an expansion on the 2010 Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which made the creation or exchange of  ''animal crushing'' footage illegal.

According to CARE, the act defines ''animal crushing'' as when "one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury."

The bill makes it a federal crime for "any person to intentionally engage in animal crushing if the animals or animal crushing is in, substantially affects, or uses a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce."

Watch the historic moment Donald Trump signed the bill below: 

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Commenting on the bill earlier this month, Senator Pat Toomey stated: "Passing this legislation is a major victory in the effort to stop animal cruelty and make our communities safer."

He added: "Evidence shows that the deranged individuals who harm animals often move on to committing acts of violence against people. It is appropriate that the federal government have strong animal cruelty laws and penalties."

Per ABC, CEO of the United States Humane Society Kitty Block, stated: "PACT makes a statement about American values. Animals are deserving of protection at the highest level."

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She added: "The approval of this measure by the Congress and the president marks a new era in the codification of kindness to animals within federal law. For decades, a national anti-cruelty law was a dream for animal protectionists. Today, it is a reality."

Two Florida congressmen reintroduced a bill on Wednesday that would make animal cruelty a national felony. The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act addresses "crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, and impaling animals," plus bestiality. If the bill passes, those found guilty of such malicious acts could face up to seven years in prison.

"The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law," said one of the bill's sponsors, Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan, per The Orlando Sentinel. His partner, Rep. Ted Deutch, a Democrat, said the measure is "commonsense, bipartisan legislation to bring some compassion to our animal laws."

The congressmen cited a 2010 law aimed at punishing those who create videos of animals subjected to torture, and argued it was not comprehensive enough. "We’ve acted in the past to stop the horrific trend of animal abuse videos," Deutch said. "Now it’s time to make the underlying acts of cruelty a crime as well."

Lawmakers previously introduced the PACT Act twice and the Senate unanimously passed the bill both times. However, Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, the Republican Representative from Virginia, singlehandedly blocked the measure from coming to the floor of the House for a vote. Since Goodblatte is no longer serving in Congress, lawmakers are optimistic that the third time will be the charm for the PACT Act.

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The Humane Society applauded the bill's reintroduction, noting that it would close a loophole in the 2010 law, which only applies when animal cruelty is captured on video. "Decades ago, the Federal Bureau of Investigation recognized the seriousness of animal cruelty and its link to escalating violence toward humans," Sara Amundson, the president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, told the Sentinel. She added that the law could reduce other types of crime.

The PACT Act includes exceptions for hunting, normal veterinary care, hunting, and conduct necessary to protect life or property from a serious threat caused by an animal.

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill will now charge those guilty of animal cruelty in England and Wales with up to five years in prison. The new bill aims to highlight the severity of animal cruelty.

The bill was approved by the Cabinet earlier today (June 26) and will see the highest sentencing being put into effect for crimes such as dog fighting, neglect of farm animals, and house pet abuse.

This new sentencing - up from the previous maximum six months - aims to put England and Wales on par with Northern Ireland, which has similar animal cruelty punishments. With this increase, parts of the UK have gone from having one of the lowest sentences in Europe to one of the highest.

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This bill compliments Finn's Law, passed earlier this month to increase protection for service dogs and horses. Finn's Law is named for a police dog who was stabbed in 2016 while pursuing a subject. The approved Animal Welfare Bill now means that someone who attacks a police dog can face up to five years in prison.

Check out Finn's incredible BGT audition below:

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Animal charities such as the RSPCA who advocate for our furry friends without a voice have been campaigning for a bill like this one for years.

Despite the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs passing the Animal Welfare Act in 2006 - which aimed to provide animals with an improved ethical treatment - this piece of legislation only enforced up to 51 weeks of imprisonment.

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Thus, the Animal Welfare Bill has come not a moment too soon. Last week, three men from Wales were jailed for badger baiting and animal cruelty. None of them were sentenced for more than 22 weeks. When law enforcement confiscated their phones, they found several photos and texts depicting killed wildlife and injured dogs.

The RSPCA hopes that the new bill will help to enforce stricter punishment in court and reduce animal cruelty in homes across the UK. Michael Gove, Environment Secretary of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said in a statement:

"There is no place in this country for animal cruelty. That is why I want to make sure that those who abuse animals are met with the full force of the law. Our new Bill sends a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated, with the maximum five-year sentence one of the toughest punishments in Europe."

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Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive for the RSPCA, said that The Animal Welfare Bill is long overdue, and that criminals need to face tougher justice:

"We need to better protect our animals and the RSPCA hopes that this new Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill will give courts the powers they need to punish those responsible for the most unimaginable cruelty to animals."

Let's hope this helps to stamp out animal cruelty once and for all.

It's no secret that many people out there care more about animals than other humans. When we hear about a human being injured we are no doubt distressed, but a dog, cat, horse or rabbit being abused? Stories like that are the ones which really hit us where it hurts. However, thanks to new animal abuse laws in England, people who cruelly mistreat animals will be paying a much harsher price than before - and rightfully so. In late September 2017, the British government revealed plans to make people who commit the most heinous acts of cruelty to animals face up to five years in prison. The move is a hefty increase on the former six-month maximum and signals an important shift in tone for the country, which currently has some of the most lenient sentencing guidelines for animal cruelty in Europe. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/_CFJ_/status/913225527896559617]] The crackdown is no coincidence and comes after a number of court cases in which judges have admitted they would have liked to impose harsher punishments if they had the option, including a particularly horrifying one where a man bought a number of puppies with the intention of brutally and systematically beating, choking and stabbing them to death. According to the UK's Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra), about 1,150 people per year are currently convicted for animal cruelty - but fewer than five receive the current maximum sentence. The Department of the Environment claimed that the new legislation will also enable courts to deal more effectively with merciless gangs involved in organised dog fights. Under the government's plans, the courts will retain the ability to hand out unlimited fines, as well as being able to ban offenders from owning animals in the future, but in addition, they will have the power to sentence the most monstrous cases more harshly. Michael Gove, Environment Secretary, spoke highly of the proposed animal abuse laws, stating it would target "those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals". He added: “We are a nation of animal lovers and so we must ensure that those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals face suitably tough punishments,” he said. “These plans will give courts the tools they have requested to deal with the most abhorrent acts. This is one part of our plan to deliver world-leading standards of animal welfare in the years ahead.”

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England's moderate animal abuse laws have been a heavily debated issue among the public for quite some time. As the announcement was made, animal lovers across England rejoiced and many even took to social media to express their jubilation. In addition, many people in Wales expressed their hope that their country would soon follow suit. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/PJGregory2015/status/914043274448523264]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/CEO_Battersea/status/914291287217639425]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/safe4UK/status/940538315366858753]] One important example of the old laws provoking outrage is the case of two brothers from Redcar, in Teesside, who subjected a bulldog to abuse in 2016. Andrew and Daniel Frankish repeatedly stamped on the dog, before throwing it down the stairs; as a result of the attack, the dog became paralysed in the back legs and eventually had to be put down. However, when its coldhearted assailants were taken to court, they were only given a suspended sentence at Hartlepool Magistrates Court. Afterwards, livid adversaries pointed out that, even if they had been jailed, the maximum prison sentence they could have faced was six months - meaning they would likely have been released in just three. The incensed public response highlighted the fact that punishment for animal cruelty offences needed to enforced. Reportedly, between 2013 and 2015, more than 3,000 people in England and Wales were convicted of animal cruelty but just seven per cent received jail terms. The government plans to publish draft legislation for the new laws - which will only apply in England as animal cruelty powers are devolved to the nations of the UK - around the New Year, with the guidelines expected to come into force in 2018. Unsurprisingly, the reform has been warmly welcomed by the RSPCA, a charity operating in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. David Bowles, RSPCA Head of Public Affairs, said: “Our inspectors regularly rescue animals from horrific circumstances of mistreatment, brutality and neglect. It is only through the prosecutions that we take that many of the perpetrators are brought to justice. “The strength of feeling behind a move to toughen up these sentences is huge," he continues, "but at the moment the courts are limited by the law under which the strongest sentence for animal cruelty is six months’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine - but this rarely happens. Michael Gove’s promise to bring sentences in line with Northern Ireland, which has a maximum of five years imprisonment, should help to deter people from abusing and neglecting animals and will finally mean that the sentence fits the crime.” With the arrival of the new laws, we can only hope that animal abusers in England feel the full force of the justice system and receive the harshest punishment possible for their crimes.

Lawmakers in California have passed legislation banning the manufacture or sale of animal fur, making them the first state in the country to do so, the BBC has reported. The law will make it illegal for California residents to make or sell clothes, bags or shoes using animal fur after 2023, in a move that has been praised by animal rights activists. 

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Governor Gavin Newsom declared:

"California is a leader when it comes to animal welfare and today that leadership includes banning the sale of fur. But we are doing more than that. We are making a statement to the world that beautiful wild animals like bears and tigers have no place on trapeze wires or jumping through flames."

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Animal campaigners have been effusive in their praise, with a spokesperson from the Humane Society US commenting, "We applaud Gov Newsom and the state's lawmakers for recognizing that California citizens do not want their state's markets to contribute to the demand for fur products."

Watch PETA's Very Racy Super Bowl Ad:

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This was echoed by PETA vice-president Tracy Reiman, who added, "Today is a historic day for animals in California, including those who have been whipped into performing in circuses, or skinned alive for their fur or skin."

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Comedian Whitney Cummings also tweeted her support for the legislation, saying: "Today California became the first state to ban the manufacture and sale of fur. Surreal. Thank you @GavinNewsom for getting that we are better than that."

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Although the changes are dramatic, there are a few caveats. For instance, the law doesn’t cover cow hides or leather, nor goat, sheep or deer skins. Anyone found to be in contravention of the law could be fined up to $500, or $1000 for a repeat offense, meaning that any rule-breaking could quickly become a costly mistake.

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However, despite the seemingly good news for everyone’s furry friends, not everyone was left smiling at the change. Keith Kaplan of the Fur Information Council labeled the legislation part of a "radical vegan agenda", and added that the move was "the first step to other bans on what we wear and eat".